Question
My present ponytail plant is root bound in a 7 inch deep pot but I would like to trim it and house it in a shallower pot. The bulb is about 4 inches in diameter. Can you suggest how much roots I can trim.  How long should I wait before I start giving it water after the root trim?

Answer
Cynthia,

I assume you are aiming to turn your beaucarnea recurvata into a bonsai plant. You not only prune the roots by about 1 1/2 -2 inches but you also wash some of the soil off the surface exposing more of the top of the bulb. You should wait at least 2 weeks after repotting before watering. However I would wait to do any of this until after April 1st when the days are getting longer and the roots will recuperate faster. If you have any additional questions feel free to write again. Good luck.

Darlene